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Blitz was the third Sheriff’s Office K-9 to be put down this year - and the sixth since the program was reinstated in 2003 - but he was the first to be put down as an active member, instead of in retirement.

"We think of these K-9s as our partners in a lot of respects, but they’re more than that," said Deputy Patrick Younkin, Blitz’s handler, after a memorial for the dog. "They’re our friends. They’re members of our family. We spend more time with them than anybody."

In Greek mythology, Argo was the name of a great ship built and protected by goddesses. It was memorialized in the sky, but the large constellation, called Argo Navis, eventually was broken up into three constellations: Carina, Puppis and Vela. “Argo” also is the name of a 2012 movie starring Ben Affleck about a mission to rescue six Americans from Tehran, Iran, during the 1979-81 hostage crisis.

The vote is a fun way to get the community involved with the Sheriff’s Office, but also a way to move forward with the new K-9 after Blitz’s death, said spokeswoman Natalie Sosa.

About 7:15 p.m., Taz had 38.45 percent of the vote, Argo had 32.72 percent and Ace had 28.83 percent.
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